Flashlamp cartridge assembly



April 21, 1970 J, K. BERTRAMS ETAL 3,508,040

FLASHLAMP CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY n Filed June 248,` 1967 l I l l I 1 I 1 7 1 1 1 1 1 I I 23 I I l I 13 if l 1 l; af 1 E g s I d 23 3 si 21 1111158 J-s'fs BYJOHANNES C. BLOM hda/@ AGENT United States Patent O ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A ilashbulb cartridge assembly for camerasincluding a base which is rotatably mounted on a camera, a plurality of ilashbulbs mounted on the base and a removable cover which contains a plurality of reflectors. The base and the ilashbulbs constitute a throw-away unit with the cover and reflectors being reusable. A pin element axially disposed within the cover has one end thereof secured to the closed end of the cover, and a shoulder portonvon the other end thereof which is engaged by edges of the reflectors to thereby deiine a plurality of cavities for receiving the ashbulbs. The cover has a plurality of detents on the lower edge thereof which engage a corresponding number of projections on the base member to provide a detachable snap connection between the base and the cover.

The invention relates to a ilashbulb cartridge assembly which can be rotatably secured to a camera or an auxiliary member thereof. The assembly comprises llashbulbs and a cover arranged on the upper side of a base. At least part of the side surface or side surfaces of the cover consist of a transparent material the cover surrounds a number of reflectors and ilashbulbs.

In the known flashbulb cartridge assembly a cubeshaped unit, sometimes termed llashunit, is secured to the upper side of a camera which is constructed so that, operating the shutter mechanism, a ashbulb is triggered and automatically and rapidly turns a quarter turn so that the following bulb assumes the position for flashing. After the ilashbulbs have been iired the unit which comprises a bottom portion, four reflectors and a transparent cube-shaped cover, is useless as such and is thrown away. .Since the price of this known combination is considerably higher than that of four flashlight lamps separately, the use of such throw-away units is rather expensive.

It is the object of the invention to provide a`ilashbu1b cartridge assembly which is also suitable for use with a camera as described above in which, while maintaining the flash properties of the known unit, the possibility is presented of replacing the base with the red flashbulbs secured thereto by a new one and consequently re-using the rather expensive cover with reflectors.

ln the flashbulb cartridge assembly, according to the invention, the reilectors are secured to the cover and the cover can easily be detached from the base with the flashbulbs secured thereto.

For the easily detachable connection between the cover and the support various constructions are possible. The simplest construction is that in which the cover is slid in a somewhat clam-ping manner over the circumferential edge of the holder and is held in place there as a result of frictional forces. However, if the-cover with the reilectors are to be used frequently, it is preferred to construct the connection between the cover and the support in the form of a snap fastener in which the parts to be connectedare each provided with projections and detents, respectively, or the like.

3,508,040 Patented Apr. 2l, 1970 ice The invention will now be described with reference to an example.

In the drawing FIGURE l shows the two parts of the combination according to the invention in a spaced-apart position, while FIGURE 2 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the two united parts of the combination in question.

The flashbulb assembly shown in the figures can be secured to a camera, not shown, so as to be rotatable thereon. The assembly includes a base land a transparent cube-shaped cover 3. Both the base and the cover are fabricated from a synthetic resin material. In the assembled position as shown in FIGURE 2 the base 1 and the cover 3 enclose four separate ilash bulbs 7 and reflectors 5. For purposes of securing the assembly to a camera the base 1 has a splined member 9. A number of current conducting contacts 13 are secured to the collar 11 of the base 1. These contacts 13 are arranged around the member 9 and are connected to the ilashbulb contacts. Four llashbulbs 7 are mounted on a flanged portion of the base and form one assembly. Each pair of the contacts 13 contacts a set of flash contacts on the camera. Operation of the camera and the flash contacts will not be described in detail since those operations are well-known.

The four reflectors 5 in this embodiment are constructed as strips of material which are bent at an angle and secured in the cover in such manner that they form a unitary assembly with the cover. The shoulder portion 17 on pin 15 centrally supports the four enclosed reflectors. At the upper end of the cover 3 the pin 15 is secured, for example, by bonding, to a plate 19 which is secured against the end face of the cover 3.

The cover 3 is secured to the base 1 so as to be easily detachable by means of a snap fastener. For this purpose the cover 3 includes a pair of inwardly projecting detents 21 positioned adjacent the lower edges of two opposite side surfaces of the cover3. The base 1 has two latching projections 23 which receive the cover detents 21 when the base and cover are coupled. The base and cover are coupled by axially forcing the cover 3 onto the base 1 which the detents 21 are aligned with the latching projections 23. The cover 3'is removed from the base by reversing the coupling operation. Uncoupling is facilitated by depressing the side surfaces not containing the latch portions 21 so that the side surfaces containing the latch portions 21 tend to separate from the detents.

In the present embodiment it is possible to revise the cover 3 and the reflectors 5 after using the bulbs.

The combination of the base 1 and the ilashbulbs 7 is constructed as a throw-away unit. This is replaced by another base and ilashbulb combination.

The assembly as described is constructed as a cubeshaped unit. It will be obvious that the invention may also be applied to units which have a cylindrical shape in which the circumference of the base for the flashbulbs is not square but circular.

What is claimed is:

1. A ashlamp cartridge assembly comprising:

(a) a base having (i) a splined member extending from one side thereof for connection to a camera, (ii) a collar secured adjacent said splined member and having a plurality of electrical contacts thereon, (iii) a mounting surface on the bases opposite side,

(b) a plurality of flashlamps mounted on said mounting surface, each ilashlamp being in operative relation with said electrical contacts,

(c) a detachable cover overlyin'g said base and said flashbulbs, the cover including (i) a transparent container having a longitudinal axis, sides, a closed cap part, and an open part, (ii) a pin axially disposed in the container, the pin having one end secured to the cap and a remote end with an outward extending shoulder, and (iii) a plurality of reectors secured adjacently inside the cover and corresponding in number to said plurality of ashlamps, each reliector having one edge engaging said shoulder and each deining with the container part a cavity for receivi'ng one of the ashlamps.

2. A ashlamp cartridge assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of latching projections on said base, and a plurality of detents corresponding in number to said latching projections on said cover engaging said latching connections, said latching projections and said detents providing a detachable snap connection providing a detachable snap connection between said cover and said base.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner FRED L. BRAUN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

